Wrap Up
"Conduct a poll of 200 hockey men, and it might be unanimous: Edmonton got what it needed in that deal, and giving up Hall was well worth it. – Mark Spector"
This quote in reference to the Taylor Hall trade has become a running joke in Edmonton. It signifies the Old Boys Club and the hockey/media worlds over-reliance on former players.
It makes a mockery of the idea that the past informs the future and experience is king over smart and new ideas. Some of these moves end up being very good like Steve Yzerman or Doug Wilson, a lot of these guys are ill-prepared and out of their depth.
Mike Milbury is probably the most famous example of this trading Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish. Another one of his moves was a 2nd overall pick (Jason Spezza) and Zdeno Chara for Alexei Yashin.
Funnily enough, Milbury is currently hired to color commentary on T.V as an analyst. It seems as though once you’re “in” you’re “in” for life.